Pregnancy Smoothie: Gingerbread!
First things first, the recipe! (Cause who wants to scroll past a wall of text?)
½-1 Ripe Banana
1 Brazil Nut (Optional. Adds a boost of selenium!)
2/3 c Whole Milk (Preferably raw)
1 tsp Vanilla
3 Soft-Boiled Eggs (Preferably “pastured” or “pasture-raised”)
Handful of Greens
1 tbs Nut Butter (Almond or peanut)
1" Fresh Ginger Root
Pinch of salt
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
Dash of cloves
1. Blend all ingredients until smooth and creamy.
2. Sip and enjoy!
How The Gingerbread Smoothie Helps You & Your Growing Baby
Morning Sickness - You’ve probably heard that fresh ginger can work wonders for morning sickness, but did you know that high-cholesterol foods do the same? That’s right, morning sickness is caused by the depletion of good cholesterol, leaving us mommas nauseous, tired, and cranky. The milk, eggs, and nut butter included in this smoothie offer a sneaky way to add some good cholesterol to your pregnancy diet. You’ll be feeling like your pre-pregnancy self in no time!
Less Vaginal Tearing - Protein lessens vaginal tearing! And the BEST most BIOAVAILABLE source of this nutrient is eggs. Specifically soft-boiled eggs. I definitely have trouble eating this superfood during pregnancy, but the gingerbread smoothie makes it a tasty experience 😋 (I promise you can’t taste them at all!)
Less Labor Pains - Calcium is a sedative mineral which creates a calming effect in the brain. Having plenty of this nutrient in store will allow you to relax through and ignore every contraction. BONUS TIP: Get your milk raw! Phosphatase, an enzyme needed for calcium absorption, is almost completely destroyed in the pasteurization process, rendering it difficult for the body to absorb ANY CALCIUM WHATSOEVER from pasteurized milk. Check out the Raw Milk Finder to see where you can find milk in its purest form!
Less Birth Complications - Protein is your best birth friend! Adequate protein intake lowers your risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and intra-uterine growth restriction. And as mentioned above, eggs are the BEST POSSIBLE source of protein!
Good Lookin’ Kid - The nutrients A, D3, E, and K2 work together to help your little babe grow a beautiful jaw line, cheekbones, and perfectly straight teeth. Fortunately for you, each of my pregnancy smoothies is PACKED with these nutrients, helping your baby grow into a little model. Check out the Weston A. Price Foundation to learn more about this development process!
Reduced Rate of Birth Defects - The folate found in eggs, milk, nut butters, and greens improves cellular division, helping your baby to avoid anencephaly, spina bifida, and other neural tube defects.
If you liked this recipe, download the app Natural Birth by Ecco for more!
